Friday, December 01, 2006

Youth Leadership Greater Washington (YLGW) has an outstanding leadership development opportunity for current sophomores and juniors from the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland. From January-June of 2007, the program will bring together a diverse group of students on a monthly basis to explore and discuss various issues, including, cultural diversity, government and society, arts and culture and leadership.

Although the program costs over $1000 per student for the six-month program, tuition for students is only $150. YLGW will work with any student who cannot afford the $150 cost.

The deadline to apply to the program is Friday, December 15 at 5:00 p.m. For more information visit the website at: www.lgwdc.org. You can also contact Diana Veiga if you have any questions - via phone(202 777-4496) or via email (dveiga@lgwdc.org).

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Ideas to Action Fenty Transition Town Halls: Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty is hosting these town hall meetings to hear from residents about what needs to happen to ensure that DC is a world class city. Please sharethis information far and wide! The link to this list on the site is http://www.fentytransition.org/calendar.htm.

WASHINGTON: Today, DC Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty announced that he has asked 16-year law enforcement veteran and Metropolitan Police Department Homeland Security Commander Cathy Lanier to serve as the city's next chief of police.

"Commander Lanier has superbly served the residents of the District of Columbia for nearly two decades, and brings a unique understanding of both the importance of community policing and the expertise inhomeland security that the top law enforcement officer of the nation's capital must possess," said Fenty about his choice of Lanier.

"I am honored that Mayor-elect Fenty has entrusted me with the safety and security of the citizens of the District of Columbia," said Commander Lanier. "From the beat level to executive service, I am intimately familiar with the District's residents, their needs and concerns," she added, concluding, "I am eager to join a talented, energetic Mayor-elect and his superb team in realizing the promise this city holds."

Commander Lanier has been with the Metropolitan Police Department for more than 16 years and currently serves as the Commanding Officer of the Office of Homeland Security & Counter-Terrorism. Working out ofthe Office of the Chief of Police, she has taken the lead role in developing and implementing coordinated counter-terrorism strategies for all units within the department. In this position, she has beenresponsible for all counter-terrorism operations, including investigations in partnership with the FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force; developing and implementing all field training exercises, as well asconducting risk assessments and critical infrastructure protection of key sites within the nation's capital.

Prior to her current assignment, Commander Lanier served as the Commanding Officer of the Department's Special Operations Division (SOD) for four years where she managed members of the Emergency Response Team; Explosive Ordinance Unit; Aviation and Harbor Units; Horse Mounted and Canine Units; Domestic Security Unit; Special Events/Dignitary Protection Branch; and the Department's Civil Disturbance Units.

During her tenure as the SOD Commander, she established the agency's initial Homeland Security/Counter-Terrorism Branch and created an agency-wide chemical, biological, radiological response unit known as the Special Threat Action Team.

Commander Lanier spent more than 10 years of her career in the Uniform Patrol Division. As the Commander of the Fourth District she created the Latino Advisory Council that later expanded to become the LatinoLiaison Unit. She has also served as the Commanding Officer of the Department's Major Narcotics Branch and Vehicular Homicide Units in the Special Services Bureau.

Lanier has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice studies, from the University of the District of Columbia and a bachelor of science in management from Johns Hopkins University, where she went on to receive her master's in the same area of study. She also earned a master of arts in homeland security and defense from the Naval Postgraduate School. She has been honored for her law enforcement and homelandsecurity work and holds a Top Secret Clearance with SCI Access.

Commander Lanier is 39 years old and the mother of one son. She comes from a family of public service. Her father retired a Deputy Chief in the Prince George's County Fire Department and her two brothers, one a captain in the Prince George's County Fire Department and the other a detective in the Greenbelt City Police Department, are still in public service today. Her mother, now retired and living with the Commander,worked more than 30 years in the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts in Washington, D.C.

DC Action for Children launched its "5 Promises to Kids" campaign! Check it out here

Make Your Promise To DC Kids Today!

DC Action for Children's (DC ACT) 5 Promises to Kids Campaign urges the newly elected mayor of DC this November to address the most critical needs of the city's youngest residents. Over the next 2 months, beginning July 31, DC ACT will release 5 critical promises-one per week. We look to encourage city leadership to make and honor their commitment to children in DC. If you work or live in DC, please find out how you can support our campaign by clicking the link above. We hope that you will join this worthwhile movement!

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

DCAYA is supporting this rally on August 23rd in conjunction with the Justice for DC Youth Coalition and other youth advocates to ensure that the Crime Bill and Curfew ENDS at 90 days!!

Led and planned by young people, this is a great opportunity for you to show your support and a great experience for young people that you may work with.

Come out and help us send the message that instead of the three C's -

CURFEWS

CAMERAS

and anti-CONFIDENTIALITY measures

We stand for the three E's -

EDUCATION

youth EMPOWERMENT

and EMPLOYMENT

STOP THE WAR ON YOUTH

WEDNESDAY, August 23,2006

11am-1pm

FREEDOMPLAZA

Pennsylvania Ave. between 13th and 14th !

by : Federal Triangle Metro

Directly across from the Mayor's Office

END the Crime Bill at 90 days!

The mayor's emergency crime bill will not reduce crime or increase public safety. Instead it will unfairly target youth and fails to address's the real issues that lead to crime in DC!

Fight the youth curfew, as well as new cameras, new court procedures, and anti-confidentiality measures which will have a negative impact on our city's youth. Come to show support, spread the word, and work o! n the petition effort.